Liquid agitator



M. sscoFlELp LIQUID AGITATOR Filed Marh 5, `1954 Patented Apr. 1 4, 1936 "PATENT OFFICE lmum llenaron Mark s. suunela, columbus, oluu, uuulguur tu Ralph S.- Scofield, Newton, Iowa Application M'uuun 5, 1934, sel-nu No. 114,129

The purpose of such a structure is to provide for eiiicient agitation and the satisfactory crea-y tion of soap Vsucls and to prevent the waterfor i5 lecting on' the top thereof.

My agitator may be used for washing machines, dish washers and otherapparatus where the creation of soap suds is desirable.

For purposes of illustration, I have shown my aggator embodied in the form of a washing 'mac e. r

l With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement' and combinationof the various parts of my liquid agitator, -whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully-set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

- Figure 1'is a front elevation of a washing machine embodying an agitator involving my invention, parts being broken away and parts being shown in section. j

Figure 2 is ahorizonta'l, sectional view taken ontheline2-2ofFigure,1.,'

Figure 3 is a' vertical, detailed,-sectional view taken on the lne 3--3 of-Figure 2. v

Figure 4, is a detailed, sectional view taken on the line 4I of'Figur'e 3; and

Figure 5 is a detailed, sectional view taken on theline5-5ofFigure2.A

In the drawing herewith, I have shown a washing machine having an outer shell Il in the form of 4a-metal cylinder supported on legs II' pr vided with rollers I2.

IJ in the form of .an annular', substantially flat ring inclined inwardly and slightly downwardly .from the wall v olf the shell I0 and substantially overhanging the top of the tub I4.

Ille tub 'Il is supported in anysuitable way within and spaced from the wall ofthe shell Il.

As here illustrated, the under side of the apron I3 is provided with an annular flange I5 -fittingtheinsideofthewalioftheshell Il andwith an *'55 inwardly spaced downwardly proiecting sudafrom emerging from the container and col- Resting on the top of the shell Il isjan apron flange I6 arranged to project downwardly just inside the wall of the tub I4.

The tub Il has at its' upper edge the outwardly extending ange I1. I arrange a gasket 4It in the form of a rubber hose between the ange 5 I'I and the under face of theapron I3;

vA series of lugs I9 project downvl'ardly` from the apron `and locking plates 20 are fastened to thelugs I9 as by screw bolts 2| and are so arranged as to engage under the flange I1 for hold- 10 lug the tubluplace. n

In the form of the *device shown here, I have illustrated a cover 22 hinged at v23 to the apron I3 for closing the central opening in the apron and thus, closing the tub. 'Thec'oven of course, may vary in structure but the cover 22 will suiiice for illustrating my invention.

Itwill be understood that the tub may be provided with suitable drain means, which however forms no part of my present invention and 20 is therefore not shown Vin the drawing. The

mechanism may also be provided with a wringer and means for operating it, and I have shown the wringer post P, but since the wringer mechanisln forms no part of the ,present invention, 25

I have not further illustrated it.

-Suitably supported belowthe tub is anair 4pump or b1ower24 operated from any source of power, for instance the motor 25. The pump discharges air into a pipe 26, which extends up- 3Q wardly alongside the tub and withinthe shell I Il* and to a point near the top of the tub, and from whence it is inclined downwardly again to a point beiowthe bottom of the tub thus afford 35 Y a properwater seal. i

The air is supplied from the pipe 2B to the lower interior of the tub Ily through a distributor 21, which may be similar in its general structure to that disclosed in my patent, No. v1397,--l

622, issued ,umh 24, 1931, and' particularly lu 4 Figure 3 tlfereof. f The alr rr the blower ls drawn :rom the lukterior of the tub, y E A I `have shown an air and moisIz'lre separator 5 28 in the form of a casingsecured to the side of the tub, which is larger at its upper end than .at its lower end, and is connected with the blower intake by a pipe 29;

vThe casing ofthe separator as herein mentioned.

At the upper partl of the separator 28 its interior communicates with the tub-by means of a passage 30 through the ofthe separatorv and the wall of. thlev tub. with the 28 is except 5o `is provided with a pair of laterally spaced partitions 32 extending from the top 'of the casing downwardly below the passage 30 and extending into the upper end of a compartment 33 formed in the casing by means of a partition 34. This compartment 33 is open at its upper end as shown and is otherwise closed, except fo'r the tube 35,-V

which leads from its lower part into the tub. 'There will, of course, be some moisture carried into the separator with the air.

The air follows a tortuous'path as indicated by the arrows in Figure 4 and the moisture tends to drop into the compartment 33 where it stands substantially on the level with the water-in the -It will thus be seen that in the operation 'of the device, the air is drawn from the tub through theblower and discharged into the. bottoml of the tub and passes upwardly through the water,

thus serving to agitate it.

Itv will be understood that by adding soap va desired suds may be produced.

I have found that by using air for the agitator instead of employing a mechanical agitator, I am able to create and maintain a much better supply of suds. l'

'I'he soap bubbles gather vat the top of the water in the tub insuch quantityvthat they tend to get out through the joint around the lid and pile upy on top of the tub. 'Ihis is a decided objection to washing machines and the like which employ air for 'agitating water and washing the clothes and forming a suds. lMuch complaint has been experienced because of the fact that the suds gather in a pile on-top of the tub.

I have provided means for creating slight vacuum in the tub and thus for creating a. slight sucisanalrventutoopen 'from the tube :s

tion around the cover, and thus preventing the collection of soap'bubbles on top of the tub. Extending from the upper part of the pipe 26 a short tube 33 to the lower part of a horizontal cylindrical casing 31 of 'what maybe called a vacuum generator and moisture separator. A short pipe 33 leads :from the lower part of the opposite end of the casing 31 to a passage 33 in the wall of the casing 2 8 discharging into the interior of the casing at 43 (Figure 2) above the compartment 33.A f

In the casing 31 is a vertical partition 4I spaced but nearer that tube than the tube 33. The partition 4| has a series of small holes 42 in its upper part. Spaced from vthe partition 4| and between it and the tube 33 is 4another partition 43 extending from the upperI part of the' casing 31 substantially more than half way to the bottom thereof, and thus leaving an opening around its lower edge. v

Preferably in the top of the casing 31 between the partition 43 and the atmosphere.

around the lower edge .thence through the vent 44.

`vent to atmosphere, and means for conducting air inlet.

outlet end of the casing through the small tube 33 into the casing 31, and

will, of course, be substantially retarded by the charcoal or the like, indicated at 45,' which may ll or partly illl one or more of the compartments formed by the partitions, and thev air will follow, "1 a tortuous path through the openings 42 and of the partition 43 andl The moisture and soap carried by the air will v tend to collect on the charcqaMi onthewlike and 1 will then now out throughthk e 33' in the air and moisture -separatoi and drop intc` the compartment 33. 'Ihus a small part of e air pulledfrom the tub by the blower willbe discharged to atmosphere `through the vent 44. v'Ll'his will create a slight vacuum in thetcp of the tub and will tend to cause slightiniiow of air into the tub around the cover 2,2. 'I'his inowing air vwill prevent' the escape of soap bubbles around the cover and prevent the collection 'of a pile of soap bubbles on top of the tub.A Y

By this arrangement,v I am able to utilize the advantages of air agitation of the water in a washing machine or the like, and am able to take advantage of the creation of a large amount of suds and at the same time to prevent the escape of the suds from the tub and the collection thereof on the top of the tub and on the apron I3.

It will, of course, be understood that some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts ofmy improved structure, and it is my purpose to coverv by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a washing machine, a. tub, a cover thereior, around which suds might escape and means for supplying air to the water in the tub for agitating it without allowing suds to escape around thencedownwardly into the distributor chamber, saidipipe means being provided with a small from the upper interior of the tub to the pump .2. In a device of the kind described, a washing machine tub, a cover therefor, around which suds might escape and around which air may be drawn into the tub, an air pump, air conducting means leading from the pump to the lower interior of the tub, air conducting Ameans leading from the 'upper interior ofthe tub to the pump and a communicating e 1eading from said rst means tp said second means, having a small vent to atinosphe'e.

/ MARK S. SCOFIELD.

23, some of the air will pass 5 

